(a)      A foreign entity may register its entity name or its entity name with any changes required by § 1-502 or § 1-503 of this subtitle, if the name is distinguishable upon the records of the Department as provided in § 1-504 of this subtitle.

      (b)      A foreign entity shall register its entity name by delivering to the Department for filing an application setting forth its entity name, or its entity name with any changes required by § 1-502 or § 1-503 of this subtitle, the state or country and date of its organization, and a brief description of the nature of the business in which it is engaged.

      (c)      The name is registered for the applicant's exclusive use upon the effective date of the application.

      (d)      (1)      A foreign corporation whose registration is effective may renew it for successive years by delivering to the Department for filing a renewal application, which complies with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, between October 1 and December 31 of the preceding year.

            (2)      The renewal application when filed renews the registration for the following calendar year.